Ordered. Were here today to examine the state of Voting Rights and Election Administration in america. The right to vote is sacred. As members of congress, we take our responsibility to protect access to the ballot very seriously. This subcommittee and our committee as a whole is charged with overseeing the administration of federal elections. This country has a long history of failing to ensure equal and unencumbered access to the ballot for all her citizens. While states and localities have a significant role in carrying out elections, congress cannot abdicate its critical responsibility to ensure every eligible american can access the ballot box, cast a ballot free from discrimination and suppression, and has a steadfast faith in our democratic process that their ballot will be counted as cast. Since the beginning of the 116th congress, this subcommittee has been Holding Field hearings across the country, convening forums to hear from voting and election advocates, experts, communit
Thank you very much. You got a lot going on. People are all over the place. Ranking member has an adhering and chairwoman has a science hearing and people will come and go. Forgive us for that. Welcome. What do we have today . For our second panel we have Catherine Lehman is the chair of the u. S. Commission on civil rights and president obama appointed her to a sixyear term on december 15, 2016. The 16. The commission unanimously confirmed the president designation to chair the commission on december 28, 2016. She also serves as a cabinet of California Governor Gavin Newsom where she has been Legal Affairs secretary since january, 2019. She served as assistant secretary for civil rights at the barman of education until 2017. Welcome. Michael waldman is president of the nyu school of law and nonpartisan law and policy institute that focuses on improving systems of democracy and justice and that rentacenter is a leading National Voice and voting righ rights, money and politics, criminal
Crews are out on frying pan road fighting a wildfire. Evacuations could be possible if the fire continues to spread. Well update you if anything changes. To the north of that fire, crews spent the night keeping their eyes peeled after a fire in gypsum were destroyed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The threat of more fires is very real as in colorado. Boulder county is under a red flag warning through this evening. The National Weather service is warning of near critical wildfire conditions. The most at risk areas are in the southern colorado mountains and valleys. Hazardous conditions are stretching up into wyoming and montana. Lets check in with belen de leon now. Our warm weather is contributing to that fire danger. It is drying out the fuels and these warm temperatures arent helping and get a handle on the fires existing. Lets take you to our maps. I want to show you where were at so far with the winds because we have stronger winds in and around the foothills a